Process of filtering eggs



May 3, 1938. F. B. LoMAx l PROCESS 0Fv FILTERING EGGS originarFi'led Feb. 7, 1935 26a. /jd

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' Patented May V3, 1938 Original application February 7, 1935, Serial No. 5,329. Divided and this application May 7,

1936, Serial No. 78,338

4y Claims. (Cl. 99-113) This invention relates to the cleansing of eggs from shell fragments and other foreign substances. More particularly this invention relates to the process of ltering egg material 5 through a foraminous barrier capable of retaining shell fragments, unbroken chalaza, lumps` and other foreign materials thereon.

'Ihis application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 5,329, 4filed February 7,

1,0 1935, entitled Apparatus for filtering eggs, now

Patent No. 2,089,215, issued August 10, 1937.

In the present invention `fresh eggs are broken to separate the egg meats from the shells.. The process is operative on the whites portions of the l5 eggsonly, on the yolk portions of' the eggs only or on both the egg yolks and whites. The egg meats may be thoroughly mixed before filtering .according to this process to assure a mass of uniform color or texture. After tratment, ac-

cording to this invention, the eggs canv be stored for future use by freezing the same to a solid form.

It hasfbeen'the aim of legg canners to produce broken eggs free from foreign materials such as egg Shells, dirt, hard fibrous parts of the -yolk sac, or other lumpy matter and to mix the egg meats thoroughly to produce a uniform color or texture free from streaks. The egg canners have furthermore repeatedly endeavored without complete success to prevent air from being incorporated into the egg meats with the attendant production of a foamy mass.

In the process of the-present invention pumps are entirely dispensed with and gravity is relied upon to transfer the egg meats from a mixing tank, in which they are collected, to a filter. During the gravitational flow, the eggs are filtered to remove shell fragments and to otherwise rid them ot lumpy material.

The filter used in the present process consists of a wire mesh screen or a perforated metal member of a porosity adapted to remove particles of shells or other undesirable matter. The filter is equipped to disintegrate or remove chalaza and matter that is not drained or squeezed through the filter Awill Iremain on the filter bed.

According to the present invention eggs are broken in the usual manner and either the whole eggs, the yolks, or the whites are treated by placing the same in a mixing tank where any ingredients such as salt, sugar. and the like maybe added. The eggs are thoroughly mixed in the tank by means of an agitator operating on the egg material from below the surface thereof so as to prevent the incorporation of air into the material. When a mixture of uniform color and texture has been obtained the resulting mass is flowed by gravity to an egg filter enclosed in a chamber. In the egg.filter the egg meats are gently pressed through the screen or perforated 5 plate member' while at the same time the inner face of this member is scraped clean.

The present process is readily adapted for a continuous operation since the filter apparatus from said member to prevent a clogging of the member.

A further object of this invention isto provide a continuous process of filtering eggs free from shell fragments, lumps, dirt and the like and to simultaneously disintegrate the egg chalaza to size suitable for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process for filtering eggs wherein egg meats are 25 beaten through a filter medium without having air incorporated into the mass.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a continuous process of filtering eggs wherein 30 broken egg material containing egg meats, -dirt, lumps, chalaza, shell fragments and the like is uniformly mixed without the incorporation fof air therein to produce a homogeneous mass and filtering said mass as it builds up on a filter medium while intermittently disturbing the built 35 up unfiltered mass to press the egg meats therethrough and disintegrate the chalaza.

`Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed de- 40 scription of the annexed sheet of drawings which illustrates types of apparatus for carrying out the process. y y

0n the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical crossesectional view,- 45

view of another modified form of apparatus useful in carrying out the process of this invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a scraper that can be used in the illustrated apparatus with either astationary or rotary filter.

As shown on the drawing:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral I0 indicates a support for an open topped tank II. The tank II has a central bottom aperture in which a shaft I2 having a mixing propeller I3 secured thereto is journaled. The shaft I2 externally of the tank II is provided witha pulley driven by a motor I4, secured onthe side of the tank, through a belt I5.

A drain aperture is provided in the bottom of the tank II to permit drainage of the contents of the tank into a drain conduit I6 controlled by a valve I'I. The conduit I6 discharges into they interior or central part of a lter housing I8 which has a semi-cylindrical sloping bottom, vertical side walls and a removable cover I9. The lowermost part of the sloping bottom of the housing is provided with a discharge conduit 20 controlled by a valve 2|.

The filter housing I9 is supported on legs or standards and has, at its receiving end, a projecting head 22 into which the conduit I6 fromthe receiving tank empties.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the filter housing contains a filter member 23 in the form of an apertured cylinder-having solid end walls 24 and 25 and perforated side walls adapted to prevent the passage of foreign materials. unbroken chalaza, egg shells, lumps and the like therethrough while permitting the passage of the egg meats therethrough into the housing I8.

The solid end plate telescoping over the open end of the head 22 of the housing I8 and is journaled for rotation on the head 22. The plate 25 is rotatable upon a shaft 26 locked within the housing I3 by a lock .screw 26a. The shaft 26 supports at spaced intervals, spiders 21 which carry longitudinal scraping members 23. y

As best shown in Figure 2 the Scrapers 29 have.V a toe 29 closely contacting the inner wall of the filter 23 to scrape material therefrom and cut off thoseportions of material which have partly passed through the filter to separate such portions from the part which remains within the filter..l The shape of the toe is such that it tends to force material through the apertures in the filter 23.

'Ihe plate 25 is secured to a flanged sleeve 25a riding on the shaft 26 and journaled in a packing box 22a about which a pulley is provided driven by a motor 30 which can be conveniently mounted on the cover IS of the housing.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 carries out the process of this invention as follows: Uniiitered egg meats are first deposited in the receiving tank II. The mixing propeller I3 is then put in motion to uniformly mix this material and the uniformly mixed mass is drained by gravity from the tank I I into the filter 23 by opening the valve I1. The motor 30 is- 24 has a central aperture `invention is n'ot limited to use in tends to protrude into the apertures thereof. 'I'his effects a disintegration of chalaza, material to a size suitable for use. 'I'he obtuse angular relation between the front faces of the toes 29 and the inner periphery of the lter 23' effects a gentle squeezing of the egg meats through the pores of the filter simultaneously with the cutting operations.`

The filtered material passed through the filter collects in the bottom of the housing I8 and is drained for storage through the conduit 20.

In the form ofV apparatus illustrated in Figure 3 the housing I8 is similar to the housing described in Figures 1 and 2 and is closed by means of the cover I9. The cylinder or filter member 3I therein is mounted for rotation in one direction while the Scrapers 33 are suitably journaled and rotated in the opposte direction as indicated. In `this manner the Scrapers 33 contact a limited and ever-changing arc in the periphery of the filter. If desired the scraper blades may be rotated and the cylinder may be stationary.

A's shown in Figure 5 the scraper blades 32 are for use in a filtering cylinder of either the stationary or rotarytype. 'I'he blades 32 are arranged in helical arcs and can be rotated in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of 42 for gathering the residue within the cylinder 4I at one end thereof from which it can be removed through the apertures 43 and 44, provided in the casing or housing I9 and in an end supporting member 4B of the filter 4I.

From the above description it should be understood lthat the illustrated forms of apparatus are intended merely as examples of devices for carrying out the process of the invention and that the the particularly described apparatus.

I am'aware that numerous details of the process `may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: l. The process of filtering eggs by gravity which comprises draining a mass of broken egg material containing egg meats, chalaza, shell fragments, lumps and the like into a member having a foraminous wall adapted to withhold vshell fragments, lumps and unbroken chalaza thereonwhile permitting the passage of egg meats therethrough, allowing layers of the egg material to build up on said wall and form a filter bed and intermittently scraping off said layers while simultaneously pressing the egg meats through the foramina of the wall.

2. A continuous process of filtering eggs by gravity which comprises draining broken egg material containing egg meats, chalaza, shell fragments and the like into a cylindrical filter, allowing the egg meats to drain through the filter while retaining chalaza, shell fragments, andthe like within the filter to build up a filter bed thereon, simultaneously scraping layers of egg material from the lter to out oi portions of the egg material partially passed through lter to permit their complete passage and collecting the filtered egg meats for storage.

3. The process of filtering eggs by gravity which comprises depositing broken egg material against a foraminous cylindrical surface, rotating the surface to allow egg meats to drain through the foramina and simultaneously scraping portions of deposited egg material from the foraminous surface for cleaning said surface while cutting portions of egg material passed partly through the foramina to permit complete passage of the portions.

4. The process of filtering eggs by gravity which comprises collecting a batch of unfiltered egg meats, stirring the batch from below the surface thereof to produce a mass of uniform character, draining a portion of the mass into a reticular drum adapted to retain shell fragments, lumps and unbroken chalaza therein while permitting the passage of egg meats therethrough, rotating the drum, allowing a layer of the egg material to build up on the inner surface of the drum and intermittently raising said layer away from said surface to cut olf portions of the egg material partially passed through the drum to permit their complete passage.

FRANK B. LOMAX. 

